Yes, it’s possible however it is illegal and not easy to go out Shenzhen area without a Chinese Tourist Visa, here’s why.

If you are planning to go out of Shenzhen, you might unable to board a plane, train and public bus since they require a passport for identification. And if they found out that you are going out of Shenzhen using a 5-day tourist visa on arrival, they might report you to a local police for trying to breach your visa conditions and eventually have you deported back to your country or to Hong Kong in most cases.

If you really want to breach your visa, hire a private car to take you out of Shenzhen but again, in China, things are limited without an identification which is your passport and they will always have a chance to check your visa.

It is recommended to get a Chinese Visa first in your country and it is easier for people who have been issued a visa before so it’s better to just apply for it.

Eligible countries can also apply for a Chinese Tourist Visa in Hong Kong but it might take longer since they process a thousand of applicants every day.

You may also ask an accredited agency to get you to mainland China and let them apply for a tourist visa for you.

3 Comments

You need to show your passport when you buy a train ticket, but that is for identification, not for visa checking. In the hotel they do check your visa for the number, but not the type. My (expired) 5 day shenzhen visa was used in hotels in Shanghai and Beijing without any problem. (however they didn’t know I had a real one, if you really have no other visa – don’t do that!)

144-Hour Visa-Free Transit in Shanghai
The 144-hour visa-free transit policy has been carried out in Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Guangdong to facilitate international travelers. It allows passengers from 53 countries or regions to transit in these cities or provinces for no more than 144 hours (six days) without holding a visa.

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Mark is a digital marketing consultant currently living in Vietnam. He is a passionate traveler and realizes many lessons after the trip. He traveled to 23 countries and counting and loved to share his travel experiences.